Machine gun ammunition magazine and mount



1945. J. c. TROTTER MACHINE GUN AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND MOUNT Filed April 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ./0//// C 7297' Jan. 2, 1945.

J. c. TROTTER MACHINE GUN AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND MOUNT Filed April 7. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J/Ofl/V C TQOTTEQ ATTRNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1945 MACHINE GUN AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND-MOUNT John G. Trotter, Williamsville N Y assignor to Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, N. .Y.

Application April 7, 1941, Serial No; 387,144

4 Claims. (01. s9-s4) This'invention relates to feeding-of ammunition to machine guns, and more'particularly to improvements in ammunition magazines for feeding aerial machine guns in an improved manner. In connection with machine guns using the so-called box type of feed; that is, a cartridge belt magazine of box-like form mounted immediately adjacent the machine gun cartridge feed way so as to move as a unit with the gun dur ing aiming adjustments of the latter, it is neces- ..sary that the unner change the ammunition boxes relatively often as they become emptied. While the gunner is changing the boxes the mounting airplane is in dangerous position inasmuch as the gunner is temporarily unarmed. Consequently, an arrangement providing increased speed in connection with changing the boxes is very desirable, and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved ammunition magazine mounting arrangement providing this feature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ammunition magazine mounting arrangement which enables the ammunition boxes to be changed with a minimum of manual effort on the part of the gunner, for improved operation during combat at high altitudes, for example. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ammunition magazine mounting arrangement whereby the ammunition container may be changed in an improved manner under restricted space conditions. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ammunition container mounting arrangement wherein the ammunition container is. positively held inoperative position in an improvedmanner during gun firing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun and magazine mount device for use in connection with flexibly mounted machine guns. Another object of the invention is to pro* vide an improved combination ammunition mag Mine and holder therefor. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ammunition magazine for use in conjunction with plural machinegun units. Another object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with ama'chine gun ammunition magazine, improved means for charging the associated gun. Other objectsand advantages of the invention. will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevation. ofia ma:- chine gun mount and machine gun and ammunition magazine and mount therefor of the invention;

' tially along line III- II I of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along line Iv -IV of Fig; 2.

The invention is illustrated in'conjunction with a machine gun design'ated'ge'nerally at ID, which may be of any type or style, and is mounted upon and is carrieo'by a mounting structure 52 which in turn is supported upon a bearer tube l4 extend ing longitudinally of the gun I0 andat each side thereof; If desired, the support 12' may be mounted upon the'bearer tubes 14 by slide con nection devices (not shown) so that the gun may be free to reciprocate longitudinally relative to the bearer tubes in in response to recoil forces of the gun firing operation. The bearer tubes I4 are adapted to be either fixedly or adjustably mounted upon any suitable base (not shown), according to the purpose of the gun installation.

The drawings illustrate a magazine holder l6 of'the invention as being rigidly mounted upon one of the bearer tubes M by means of a pair of brackets is and corresponding bolt and nut connections IS, in such manner that the magazine holder is disposed in upright position to one side of the gun Ill. The holder 16 is of generally boxlike form, being open at its top end and being formed of sheetmetal or other suitable material. The holder is is so dimensioned as to be adapted r toaccom'modate the ammunition magazine or box 20 of the'invention in vertically sl'idable relation therewithirrr and is so disposed that when the box Zlli's seatedwithin the'holder Hi the upper end or the box .20 is'substantially in registry with a cartridge belt guide throat 22.- The guide throat 22 is mounted upon the holder it by means of a bracket portion 24 (Fig; 3) so as to extend into registry-with the cartridge feed way 25 of the gun It. Preferably; a pair of s ring plate members 26 are fixed to'exte'nd in cantilever fashion from the'oppos'ite side walls of the guide throat 2'2 and into'the gun cartrid e feed way 25'so' as'tfo provide smoothly contoured guide ways for the car tridges when passing" from the ammunition. box zo-intouie gun In even tho gh the gun to may, be reciprocating relative to its mounting and the magazine unit i'n response 'tore'c'oil .forces of the gun firing operation.

Theammunition box 2!] is generally of'rec-tang-u-lar form having closed bottom and side walls each of the flanges 32 for registry with a corresponding fixed stop or boss 38 extending from corresponding side wall portions of the box to limit the movement of the cover 34 between the position of Fig. 1 thereof and toward the left thereof, only. A tongue 46 is provided to extend in downwardly inclined relation ahead of the forward end of the cover 34 in such manner as to be adapted to engage between adjacent cartridges 42 of the cartridge belt into the guide throat 22.

Thus, the cover plate 34 is adapted to be manually shifted from the position of Fig. 1 to the left thereof so as to propel the cartridge belt through the guide way 22 into the gun cartridge feedway. During each return stroke of the cover plate 34 toward the position thereof as viewed in Fig. l the tongue 46 is adapted to fiex upwardly and to ride over the following cartridges preparatory to reengagement therebehind incidental to further feeding of the cartridge belt toward engagement with the gun feed mechanism. Preferably, a pawl 45 will be pivotally mounted upon the holder l6 and arranged to extend through a slotted portion of the throat 22 and to be urged at all times by means of a spring 46 into engagement with the cartridge belt. Thus the pawl 45 will be adapted to be depressed to a position below the path of movement of the cartridge belt through the guide way 22 as it moves toward the gun it], but the pawl 45 is adapted to spring upwardly into blocking engagement against the cartridges 42 whenever the cartridge belt tends to move to return toward the ammunition box. Thus, to initially charge the gun with the cartridge belt of the box 2B, the outer end of the cartridge belt is simply placed within the opening of the guide way 22 and the box cover plate 3 4 is manually reciprocated as described hereinabove, whereupon the cartridge belt will be automatically fed into the gun l0 until it meets and engages with the gun feed pawl mechanism. Subsequent firing operation of the gun automatically provides the cartridge belt 1 feeding operation in the usual-manner.

To mount the box- 20 within the holder It in detachably locked relation, the box 23 is provided at opposed end wall portions with recesses as at 5ll-5I for engagement with overhanging end portions 52 of a pair of latch members 54. The latches 54 are keyed to a shaft 56 which is rotatably carried upon the holder 16 by means of bearings 58. The shaft 56 is arranged to ex- When it is trained tend beyond a side portion of the holder to carry thereata vertically extendingcrank 653 having a thumb pad portion 62. A torsion spring 54 is arranged upon the shaft 55 to engage at its opposite ends with the crank 56 and a stationary portion of the casing It so as to resiliently urge '1" the shaft 56 to rotate so as to maintain the latches 54 in engagement with the recesses 59, as illustrated in Fig. 3. A handle in the form of a strap 65. is fixed at opposite side portions of the box 26 so as to extend in spaced looped relation thereabove and to provide suitable space "20 and the latter will be raised in response to the lifting forces applied against the strap 65.

Thus, the empty box may be quickly removed and replaced by means of a filled box which has been previously stored in readiness within convenient reach of the gunner. It will be noted that the replacement box will slip readily into position within the holder 16 by reason of the camming action of the box 20 against the upper surfaces of the latches 54 until such time as the latch heads 52 come into registry with the recessed portion 56 of the box, whereupon the latches will snap into locked engagement with the box to maintain the latter rigidly in operative position as explained hereinabove.

It will also be noted that the boxes 2!] are provided with similar recessed portions 5! atopposite side wall portions thereof (Fig. 1), whereby each of the replacement boxes 20 will be adapted to be installed within the holders [6 at either side of a pair of guns when mounted in dual-gun relationship. For example, the'box 2!) of Fig. 1 is adapted to be mounted at the left side of a gun similar to the gun I!) of Fig. 1 but having its cartridge feedway opening to the left instead of to the right as in the case of gun 10 of the drawings. To arrange the cartridge belt to be fed into the dual gun, the cover plate 34 would simply be withdrawn fro-m the top of the box 2!! and replaced from the opposite side thereof in such manner that the tongue '48 faces toward the right hand side of the box instead of toward the left hand side Of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The cartridge belt of the box 2!] would then be trained out of the opening between the cover 34 and the side Wall of the box at the right hand side thereof. The box 20 would then be adapted to be slipped into the holder corresponding to the holder it of Fig. 1 located adjacent the left hand side of the dual gun, and upon seating of the box 28 within the alternate holder the latches of the alternate holder will detachably engage the recessed portion 5! of the box. as in the manner of the latch engagement described hereinabove. The cover plate 34 may then be-reciprocated toward the right for feeding the cartridge belt into connection with the dual gun feed pawl mechanism. Consequently, a simplified and universally exchangeable cartridge belt box and box holder arrangement is provided which is capable of use in an improved manner.

Preferably, the holder i8 is perforated as at T9 so as to provide windows through which the mounted box 20 may be viewed. A vertically elongated opening '15 may then be provided in each of the side walls ,of the box 21) and closer.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine gun ammunition magazine device comprising a magazine box holder, a magazine box adapted to be seated within said holder and to be bodily lifted vertically therefrom, said holder having latch means pivotally mounted thereon, said magazine box having latch engaging means thereon, a lifting strap mounted upon said box to extend in spaced looped relation thereabove whereby the hand of the attendant may conveniently be inserted thereunder palm downward, and a latch release lever extending from said latch means and having a pad portion at a position above the elevationlof the top of said box and in line with the thrust of the outspread thumb of the attendants hand when.

being pushed under said strap when said box is in inserted position in said holder.

2. A dual machine gun ammunition magazine device comprising, in combination, a pair of magazine holders disposed at opposite sides of the positions of a pair of parallel machine guns and a plurality of magazine boxes adapted to be seated within said holders, said holders having latch means pivotally mounted thereon for engagement with said boxes when inserted within said holders at corresponding side portions next adjacent said guns, said magazine boxes having latch engaging recessed portions at opposite sides thereof and being otherwise fully symmetrical about fore and aft medial vertical planes thereof whereby said boxes are adapted to interchangeable use in conjunction with either of said holders so as to provide like feeding thereing latch means pivotally mounted thereon for engagement with said boxes when inserted within said holders at corresponding side portions next adjacent said guns, said magazine boxes having latch engaging recessed portions at opposite sides thereof and being symmetrical about fore and aft medial vertical planes thereof whereby said boxes are adapted to interchangeable use in conjunction with either of said holders so as to provide like feeding therefrom of identically folded cartridge belts therein, said boxes having cover plates slidably mounted thereon and having tongue portions extending therebelow and adapted to be reciprocated relative thereto for propulsion of the contents of said boxes by said tongues toward the corresponding gun cartridge feedways when mounted within said holders, said cover members being reversible with respect to said boxes for use of the boxes interchangeably with either holder.

4. A dual machine gun ammunition magazine device comprising, in combination, a pair of magazine holders disposed at opposite sides of the positions of a pair of parallel machine guns and a plurality of magazine boxes adapted to be seated within said holders, said holders having latch means pivotally mounted thereon for engagernent with said boxes when inserted within said holders at corresponding side portions next adjacent said guns, said magazine boxes having latch engaging recessed portions at opposite sides thereof and being symmetrical about fore and aft medial vertical planes thereof whereby said boxes are adapted to interchangeable use in conjunction with either of said holders so as to provide like feeding therefrom of identically folded cartridge belts therein, said boxes having cover plates slidably mounted thereon and having tongue portions extending therebelow and adapted to be reciprocated relative thereto for propulsion of the contents of said boxes by said tongues toward the corresponding gun cartridge feedways when mounted within said holders, and cover slide stop means extending from said boxes adapted to limit reciprocation of said cover plates so as to prevent unintended disengagement thereof from said boxes when said boxes are seated within said holders, said cover members being reversible With respect to said boxes for use of the boxes interchangeably with either holder.

JOHN C. TROTTER. 

